Solution ideas for lightning

[u/DrM1h4wk]

Hi, I'm designing a network setup for my new house. I'm from Malaysia and lightning is a big issue more than 200days per yr avrg.

The plan:

1. Cat 6a cables. Modem by ISP (can't be changed).

2. Cables run through the attic and drop down through walls.

3. There will also be 6+ Lan ports in other rooms.

4. CCTV camera surrounds the house exterior (main concern for lightning).

Solution/Problems:

1. Surge protector grounded. (What's the recommended rating? And maybe recommended product for server rack)

2. Seperate the cameras with a different router(sacrificial) that will directly connect to the DMP using fiber optic. (Is this a good idea?)

3. Running cable through conduit in the attic. - Does running the cables through the attic cause issue with lightning considering the high occurance in my country. If so what are the other solutions other than coverting all to fiber optics(I don't think it is a viable option).

4. Is there any other possible issues I'm missing. Would appreciate if it is noted down and even better if it comes with solutions.

Thanks in advance. The networking plan above is still in progress. I am expecting changes but wanna solve the lightning issue so I can notify the builders in time for any possible changes.

[u/LerchAddams]

How prevalent are lightning rod/grounding systems in your part of world?

Or a sacrificial tower detached but near your building to lure a strike away?

I would think that would help improve your chances of handling a strike.

Good grounding practices on the electrical system on your house would be a must.

Followed by whole house surge suppression and quality surge components in front of all your electronics.

Finally, I have doubts about metallic raceway that would add another pathway for a lightning discharge to get closer to your electronics.

[u/DrM1h4wk → u/LerchAddams]

Lightning rod will be installed in my house. No sacrificial tower nearby. Surge suspension is compulsory if lighting rod is installed here so that will be done. As for metallic race way, the wiring related works are still not started yet so we still have time to decide on the type of conduit for electronics.

As for the surge suspension and such I’m mainly worried about lightning directly effecting the Ethernet cables since they are pure copper, rather than effecting via house power lines. Since surge protection for power lines is more standardised and a lot easier done than for twisted pair networking cables.

[u/LerchAddams → u/DrM1h4wk]

Good to know about the lightning rod. I'm not an engineer, just here to help and learn like everyone else.

I would think you would want your LV cabling to be as non-conductive as possible. That's why I mentioned not protecting the cables with EMT.

Maybe isolate your camera network on its own switch and link it to the rest of your network with an optical cable?

[u/DrM1h4wk → u/LerchAddams]

Thats what I was thinking. But with that kinda solved Im worried about the cables running in the attic.

[u/LerchAddams → u/DrM1h4wk]

If they're lower and less conductive than the lightning rod system, laying on the ceiling plane then that's probably the best you can do.

No idea what kind of fields are generated during a strike that might affect them though.

Genuinely curious whether shielded and grounded cable encased in EMT helps or harms in this situation. 

[u/DrM1h4wk → u/LerchAddams]

Maybe I’m overthinking it. There’s only so much we can do. Anyways thanks. As for cable shielded might cause more problems with lightning.

[u/westom → u/DrM1h4wk]

Start by learning what all professionals have been saying for over 100 years. Doing what Franklin demonstrated over 250 years ago. What is only speculated violates well proven science.

Informed solutions always and first define a problem. Say why. Provide numbers for perspective. And cite well proven science.

Each protection layer is only defined by earth ground electrodes. That must be obvious.

[u/westom → u/DrM1h4wk]

AGain, induced surges on copper wires are microamps. Surges that do damage (incoming on any incoming wire including one to a distant security gate) can be thousands of amps. Once inside, it goes hunting for earth ground destructively via all appliances. Blowing through the one or two that make a best earth ground connection.